Specifications
Feature | Details |
|---|---|
Blade Length | 12 in (305 mm) — Short tenon saw length for precise joinery cuts. |
TPI | 13 TPI — Fine tooth count for clean, controlled cuts. |
Blade Material | High carbon steel (resharpenable) — Durable blade that can be resharpened. |
Handle Type and Material | Full handle; Fagus sylvatica (German beech) secured with screws — Solid, comfortable grip with a secure fix. |
Spine type | Brass back — Stiffens the blade for straighter, more accurate cuts. |
Weight | 1.7 lb (0.77 kg) — Light enough for good hand control and less fatigue. |
Note: We don’t test products ourselves. We review user feedback and/or community discussions to recommend top options with their necessary information. This info can be susceptible to misinterpretation.
The Good
- Tunable Setup: After removing the protective finish and a quick sharpening, the saw runs straight and cuts clean. Many users report easy, precise joinery once tuned.
- Cut Quality: Cuts are smooth with a fine kerf when adjusted, giving accurate tenons and joinery. It performs like pricier saws after tuning.
- Handle Comfort: Hardwood full handle is comfortable and stays secure because it is screw-fastened. It feels solid and easy to grip for control.
- Low Effort: The saw slices through wood with little downward force once it is tuned.
- Durable Feel: Heavy brass back gives the saw good balance and stiffness in use. Expect it to last for years with normal care.
- Good Value: Performs on par with higher-priced saws after minor adjustments. Multiple buyers praised the price to performance ratio.
The Bad
- Factory Finish: Protective coating on the blade causes drag out of the box and commonly needs removal with solvent.
- Factory Setup: Teeth set and sharpness often need reworking, sometimes significantly, before the saw cuts well. Several users had to reset and resharpen the teeth.
- Quality Control: Occasional reports of bent blades, cracked brass backs, and improperly seated screws do exist.
- Initial Learning: There is a small learning curve and some skill needed to tune and start cuts cleanly. Users new to these saws may need practice.
What did others say?
I was surprised how well I liked the saw even though the handle lacked the higher-end features
Scores
Feature | Details | Score (1-10) |
|---|---|---|
Blade Length | 12 in (305 mm) | 8 |
TPI | 13 TPI | 8 |
Handle Design | Fagus sylvatica (German beech) secured with screws | 10 |
Blade Steel | High carbon steel (resharpenable) | 10 |
Spine | Brass back | 10 |
Overall Score | – | 9.2/10 |
How does it compare with others?
Tenon Saw | Blade Length Sc. (1-10) | TPI Sc. (1-10) | Handle Design Sc. (1-10) | Blade Steel Sc. (1-10) | Spine Sc. (1-10) | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crown 195 Tenon Saw | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9.2/10 |
4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 6.6/10 | |
4 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8.4/10 |
Should you consider it?
Buy If:
- You are willing to remove the protective coating and sharpen or adjust the teeth.
- You mainly cut tenons and rip joinery and want a straight, low effort cut once tuned.
- You want a durable, well balanced saw with a comfortable handle.
- You want good performance for the price compared with higher priced saws.
Don’t Buy If:
- You expect a perfectly tuned, ready to use saw out of the box.
- You do mostly crosscut or fine carcass work and need a dedicated crosscut saw.
- You don’t even want to risk occasional quality control issues.
After basic cleaning and tuning this saw performs like pricier models and offers strong value for tenon and rip work.
If you do not want to tune tools or need out-of-box perfection, consider a saw that ships fully finished and checked.
If you see any kind of mistake in our content, make sure to reach out to us.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is its blade durable enough for frequent use?
Yes, generally. The blade is high carbon steel and is resharpenable, and many users report it performs like pricier saws after cleaning and tuning.
So with regular sharpening and care it can last a long time.
However, some buyers reported occasional delivery damage or bent blades and cracked backs, so inspect new units and expect to do minor setup.
Is its blade resistant to rust or corrosion?
No, not inherently. The blade is carbon steel, not stainless, and reviews note a factory protective coating that is meant to prevent rust in storage but often gets removed because it causes drag.
Once the coating is removed, the blade will need normal rust care such as drying and light oiling.
Does its handle provide comfortable grip?
Yes for most users. The full handle is made from Fagus sylvatica (German beech) and is screwed on, and is praised for its comfort, balance, and secure feel during use.
It can need minor reshaping for personal fit or screw/seating issues, so comfort is good but can vary slightly by unit or your hands.
Is it suitable for intricate woodwork?
Partly. It is designed as a tenon rip/joinery saw and, after tuning, delivers very clean, controlled cuts suited to tenons and many joinery tasks.
For very fine crosscut work or the smallest dovetails, a dedicated crosscut or dovetail saw is a better choice; some users do use this saw for dovetails, but that requires skill and tuning.
The Grain Bros was started to serve woodworkers who can’t find products for their specific use case. We found out that there are not many media outlets extensively covering this topic. That’s why, we are here, to do the research and find the perfect products for your next DIY project. So you don’t have to juggle your tools and laptop at the same time.